Explore Anarchism

There are almost as many perspectives and beliefs as there are people in this movement.

We’ve collected some resources for you to begin exploring the terms and concepts of anarchism. To continue your self-education, start by unpacking the harmful behaviors and language patterns that we all learn from the society we are raised in. Empower yourself; educate yourself.

Remember to Question Everything! The internet is a vastly beautiful, astoundingly complex, and surprisingly dangerous tool that one can use for connecting with and learning about the world digitally. Some tips on online research: [Be sure to verify your sources; use a vpn; you can contribute to this page by emailing your suggestions to contact@neighborhoodanarchists.org; etc.]

The ideal of anarchism is a society in which all individuals can do whatever they choose, except interfere with the ability of other individuals to do what they choose. This ideal is called anarchy, from the Greek anarchia, meaning absence of government.

Anarchists do not suppose that all people are altruistic, or wise, or good, or identical, or perfectible, or any romantic nonsense of that kind. They believe that a society without coercive institutions is feasible, within the repertoire of natural, imperfect, human behaviour.

Anarchists do not “lay down blueprints for the free society”. There are science-fiction stories and other fantasies in which anarchies are imagined, but they are not prescribed. Any society which does not include coercive institutions will meet the anarchist objective.

It seems clear, however, that every conceivable anarchy would need social pressure to dissuade people from acting coercively; and to prevent a person from acting coercively is to limit that person’s choices. Every society imposes limits, and there are those who argue, with the air of having an unanswerable argument, that this makes anarchism impossible.

But anarchy is not perfect freedom. It is only the absence of government, or coercive establishments. To show that perfect freedom is impossible is not to argue against anarchism, but simply to provide an instance of the general truth that nothing is perfect.

Of course, the feasibility of anarchy cannot be certainly proved. “Is anarchy practicable?”, is a hypothetical question, which cannot be answered for certain, unless and until anarchy exists. But the question, “Is anarchy worth striving for?”, is an ethical question, and to this every anarchist will certainly answer yes.

Empowered Self-Education

Never Stop Learning; Never Give Up

We have gathered just a few of the resources out there on some high-level concepts and specific terms that we think are important to think about and begin to understand. This page can help add momentum and guidance to your journey through the collaborative library that is the internet. Some tips on online research: [Be sure to verify your sources; use a vpn; you can contribute to this page by emailing your suggestions to us at contact@neighborhoodanarchists.org; etc.]

About NAC

The Neighborhood Anarchist Collective (NAC) strives to grow the anarchist movement through strategic direct action and by providing a welcoming environment for education and participation. We organize locally to help build a society where neighbors support each other to meet basic needs, individuals are free to follow their passions, and empowered communities collectively shape the future.